MTS reported that its service for the hearing impaired facilitated approximately 500,000 phone conversations during its first six months of operation. Between March and August 2026, the tool helped users across Russia, including the Sakhalin region, process over 496,000 incoming voice calls.
The service functions by converting incoming calls into text in real time. It also utilizes speech synthesis to convert written responses from users into audio for the caller. This allows individuals with hearing impairments to communicate independently with relatives, banks, and delivery services.
The service is available to all MTS subscribers at no additional cost. Shamil Chekmarev, director of MTS in the Sakhalin region, stated that the company aims to support an inclusive environment through digital solutions, complementing existing local initiatives like the Dispatch Center for the hearing impaired.
